198 comments:

Sportsnet: Hearing NHL is hoping to have CPronger's situation resolved...for him to join Player Safety Dept...by Friday. Discussion with PA continue.

"Chris' case is unique," explained Bettman. "There are salary cap reasons why he couldn't officially retire, but the fact of the matter is, if in fact we go in that route, I'm not sure that presents any problem at all to deal with. He's done playing. He gets paid no matter what from the Flyers. He doesn't owe them anything."

So if I understand the cap, Pronger would have to be added to the roster to then be retired which would put the philthy over the cap. Isn't this a conflict of interest and a bending of the rules which would give favouritism? Further explains why nothing done against their goalie assaulting Holtby.

Is it too early to say fuck the NHL and its schedule makers? 3 games in 4 nights to start the season, all on the road against Eastern rivals? (well, maybe Washington is stretching it) OK all on the road against 3 potential East playoff teams (ok, the Leaf is stretching it)

" Beyond the natural hockey rivalry that predates anyone who isn't reading this with a monocle, there's a lot for Canadiens fans to dislike about the Leafs, and most of it is the stuff of petty resentment. It isn't the Leafs' fault that Quebecers elected a government that chased prosperity down the 401 and turned Toronto into Canada's de facto capital city at Montreal's expense. Nor can we hold the Leafs entirely to account for the TSN/Sportsnet/Hockey Night in Canada love affair with them. At their human core, media personalities are fans like the rest of us, and by nature they cheer for the team in the city where they live. What happened to Pierre Houde last night, however, is beyond petty. The longtime voice of the Canadiens on RDS and face of sports television in Quebec was turned away from the Air Canada Center press box. In their regular segment on CHOM-FM this morning, Houde told Terry DiMonte that the press box at the ACC is small and there was no room for him, so the Leafs made a reservation for Houde at a nearby restaurant, where he watched the game on television with no sound. People who know him won't be surprised to learn that for Pierre, it wasn't a big deal. He says the media relations people for the Leafs were very nice and he was grateful to them for making the restaurant reservation. He was also full of praise for the competition at TVA, complimenting them for the job they did in their first broadcast under the NHL's new television rights deal, which was the reason he wasn't calling a Canadiens game for the first time since PK Subban was in short pants. In 29 arenas around the NHL, Pierre Houde is as close as it gets to visiting royalty. He's Vin Scully with a French accent, and the Leafs couldn't even find a seat for him in the building. For a class act like Pierre, it might be water off a duck's back, but just because he wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful doesn't make it alright."

Can't say I'm surprised. Always like Houde, one of the few honest professionals with integrity. There has always been an ignorance/arrogance emanating from the no-culture city of Toronto and theres a reason the majority of the ROC can't stand them, at all.

So lnet says their first three games will alter how hockey has been and will be broadcast. They mention three games, see if you can find their common denominate of how and why hockey broadcasting will be altered:

1. Habs vs. leaf in new Wednesday game of the week2. Pens vs. leaf in new HNIC Saturday Night3. NYR vs. leaf in new Hometown Hockey Sunday

The new TSN is terrible (not that the old one was great). No boxscore for this game (apparently it hasn't started yet). For baseball, the idiots don't have series pages so the only way to know what the series stands at is to go back through the schedule (which is also a jumbled mess) and count the wins for each teams. Or just go to ESPN.

Want to echo your sentiments, moe. I was a bit too young to really remember her on SNL, but loved her in PeeWee's movie and 3rd Rock from the Sun, not to mention 30 Rock. There is no basement in the Alamo!

I'm having my turkey day tomorrow, though this year, it's non traditional turkey-free, just me and my son. First time I'm non-traditional without the bird and all the trimmings and more than 2, but that's great I have my son all to myself.Osso Buco on the menu.

GIF: Alex Ovechkin uses some salesmanship to draw hooking call against P.K. SubbanCould Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin be the first player fined under the NHL's new anti-diving regime? If he pulls something like he did on Thursday night against the Montreal Canadiens again, he probably should be.

The NHL has no idea how to run a business, and they obviously don't care who knows it. Any other league (never mind actual business) where the father of an active player could be 2nd in power, or a member of a current team's roster could get such a position? At least he's not a broon. They would have named him commissioner for life.

HEY! 4 points and sittin' on top. What a game! Won't bother mentioning the officiating. We all know.That said I agree with the goal being disallowed. Maybe that's easier to say since we got the 2 points, but if I imagine it in reverse I'd be pissed if that goal was allowed against the Habs, so...Can't say enough about Pleks. Give him the 'C'.OV. Yep, still a dirty, diving fuck.Toker - Just wow. I feel real good about our tenders.gCHuk. Wow, it's a long time since I've been excited about the potential offensive prowess this kid is beginning to show. I will hilite 'potential' and not put the cart before the horse. He is only 20 years old after all.If (Y) is out, put in Tinordi. If (Y) is in, sit Gilbert & put in Tin-tin. I'm thusly not impressed by nonick Gilbert.

K FirstWhere is Sexy Friday?K Second.I'm liking most things about the 2014 version.Course we will be in Filthy tonight and we haven't played the beaners yet but I have that feeling of confidence that if not this year, fine, but it's gonna be soon.Best move this organization has made is Geof hiring DGMB.I look back on the goat years and you just gotta shake your head.Go Habs!